Over the last couple of weeks Spellbinder and her crew have explored the beautiful south west coast of Ireland between Cork and Bantry.

After a few days back at home and in Cambridge, Sue and I flew back out with Charles and joined the start of the RYS cruise in company. The first event was a fine dinner at the world’s oldest yacht club, the Royal Cork.

We were very well hosted by the Club and its lady admiral – it is a great, active club which hosts the famous Cork week.

The next day we motored along the coast in calm conditions into Kinsale. It’s a lively town, known for its gastronomy these days, but in times past for its history, including the defeat of some of the Spanish Armada. We strolled to Charles Fort and back, enjoyed a drinks party at a Member’s house, then sat out a rainy day exploring the town. By now Charles’s wife Caroline had joined us.

We enjoyed Kinsale, despite the weather, and had a good lunch out. The next day we sailed off and round the Old Man of Kinsale, into a bit of swell and then foggy conditions, anchoring in Glandore for lunch. It was supposed to be beautiful but we saw very little! Sue and Caroline were dropped off to walk over to Castletownshend, to where Charles and I sailed and joined them, using the radar to help navigate in the poor visibility.

We had a great drinks party at a lovely house looking over the bay, and a local fisherman provided fresh lobster for supper afterwards.

Our next destination was Baltimore, but we got up early to head first to Heir (also known as Hare) Island, as we had worked out where to find some treasure. There is usually a hunt on these cruises, with hints provided in the form of a poem. We were fortunate in having friends who have a house on the island, and they helped us a little. The prize was a fine bottle of West Cork whiskey.

Heir island was lovely. We enjoyed a coffee with the sister of a friend, Landa, and her husband John at the aforesaid house, then a long walk amongst wild flowers.

We had a lovely sail under genoa following a narrow passage amongst rocks and seals to Baltimore, picking up a buoy and heading into town to enjoy some music and Guinness. We had drinks that evening with American friends of Charles and Caroline – Mike and Angie live aboard their lovely Hallberg Rassy 54, which we toured the next day before taking in a tour of Baltimore castle, having a legendary open crab sandwich and Guiness at a local bar, and walking to the famous Baltimore Day Mark.

After a fine evening at the Baltimore Sailing Club, Sue and I took a bus from Baltimore back to Cork the next day to fly back to Cambridge to attend our youngest son’s graduation – a great success. I returned having left Spellbinder in the very capable hands of Charles and Caroline, who had brought her round to Bantry. I joined her and we motored round in rather breezy weather to Glengarriff, a fine anchorage where we walked, saw seals and enjoyed the splendid natural setting.

The final event was in a delightful house overlooking Bantry harbour, where we were treated to fine food, and we were joined by my next crew Crispin.

Thank you, Charles and Caroline, for joining us on the cruise and for looking after Spellbinder in our temporary absence. This part of Ireland has been great fun – fine scenery, a sense of there being an easy-going, slightly old-fashioned social life, and wonderful wildlife. I anticipate much more as we head north.

PS Some photos taken by Sue:)